Krishna's Radha - Stories recounted by Swami's Students

It was 2004.... The odd semester of 2nd year M.B.A was on. Swami had blessed me to sit in the portico behind ganesha. As i was finishing the last few pages of Sri. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada's "Krshna", I heard the snapping of fingers from all directions, announcing the opening of the interview room door. I dextrously thrust the book aside.

The door opened gently, revealing the boundlessly beautiful form of our dearest Swami.  Indescribable feelings of joy welled up in my heart as He beckoned me to go inside the interview room.

Swami was seated on the chair. I sat at His feet, thanking Him for this priceless oppurtunity.

"Yemi samacharamu,  Swami asked sweetly.

Continuing the theme from the book's unfinished portion, I asked Swami about Radha's devotion towards Krishna. Swami, out of immense compassion, vividly recounted an episode which happened aeons ago, in the hallowed land of Brindavan. With every word that emanated in Swami's ringing voice, with every word that fell into my raptly attentive ears, indelible impressions of what divine love actually meant, formed and effortlessly lodged in my heart. It was a story of love, which was projected on the golden screen of Krishna's divine life.

This story, a prized posession from the museum of my recollections, runs as follows:

It is a scripturally undocumented incident, when Krishna returns to Brindavan, years after his departure to Mathura. Krishna goes to the banks of river Yamuna and sees Radha, seated under a lush green tree, totally immersed in joyfull contemplation....Eyes half closed!

Krishna approaches radha and calls out her name, in a love-filled nostalgic voice. Radha opens her eyes, which feast on the charming form of her beloved krishna. Her calm countenance, her moist eyes conveyed the deep love, she had nurtured for Krishna in her tender heart.

"Radha, I have come back"

Radha gets up from her posture, rushes towards the stream and gathers the cystal clear, cool waters of Yamuna in her palms....comes close to the pole star of her life, Krishna and says, "My dearest lord ! the King of my heart, When you are present in every single drop of these waters, when you are present in every leaf on this tree, when you pervade every atom of this creation, where is the question of you returning back. You were always with me."

Krishna answers, "Radha, I am immensely pleased with you. Ask for whatever you want and it shall be granted."

It was a blank cheque.

"Krishna, I dont need anything, I am contented."

After repeated persuassions for a prayer, Krishna finally said, "I know You must be yearning for my love... Pray for my love, it shall be granted."

With a meaningfull glance and a slight smile, Radha answered, "Krishna ! I wouldnt pray for even that. Because I love you unconditionally and it doesnt matter whether i am reciprocated in love or not.... I am eternally yours!"

Hearing this, Krishna sank to his knees, held Radha's hands close to his heart and said,

"For the first time, the Creator is fully on the recieving end from his creation."

What purity ! What selflessness ! What joyful contentment ! A matchless story of magical love..

The interview ended.. I was struck by the sheer uniqueness of the story and was totally oblivious of anything else as bhajan, arathi, study hours, night bell, karacharakritamva, followed in unbelievable speed!

I retired to the D-floor terrace and started reminiscing about the story under the canopy of glittering stars....The sequence of the monologue which ensued in my mind was:

"The gopikas, especially Radha, was so hurt when Krishna left mathura....Years later, how come she achieved such purity and selflessness in love, which made her life an endless festival and a celebration of divine romance? As i stared into the skies, a convincing answer seemed to be whispered into my ears....

......BECAUSE HER FEELINGS WERE DIRECTED TOWARDS ME.......

The alchemist nature of God's personality is such that even the baser feelings of attachment, when directed towards Him get sublimated into noble feelings of divine love. Such exalted devotion, that even Yuga's later, the Lord speaks of her Love for Him and the world takes their names together!

How inexplicably fortunate are we, to have come into the fold of His divine presence and experience His sweet Love !!! How immeasurably lucky are we, to be blessed with the prized identity of being called His property. 

In the battle din of life, by making Him the "be all and end all" of our hearts and weaving His thoughts on the fabric of the day, Such Divine Love will surely be OURS too...naturally !!

Lots of love,

Bharath !

(Recounted By Amitabh Das Gupta)

As always, whenever i read something on this portal, i am always reminded of some other similar episode from Parthi. I recollect Swami mentioning about the last days of Radha on earth.

Since she had chosen not to marry (being eternally married to the Lord), she was an outcast in the society of those days. She was not welcome into any village due to this stigma. She spent her time on the banks of the Yamuna. As she lied down during her last moments on earth, she thought of Sri Krishna. Very soon, HE was there next to her. HE held her head on HIS lap as she approached her last moments. 
"What is it that you desire?", HE asked Radha. 
"I wish to listen to the melody of your flute again", she replied. 
(Swami said "How can HE get the flute there? HE was coming in directly from Kurukshetra".) But, Krishna plucked a grass from the shore and it soon turned into a flute. HE played the flute for her. As she listened to this beautiful melody, the life left her body. Krishna stopped playing.

Swami said that she died on HIS lap. And, from that day, Krishna never played on the flute ever again.

By: A Arun Kumar


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